Chapter 23 – Flashing Blue
Jeff was glancing back in panic as he stood in front of the grey door in front of him. His heart was trying to leap from his chest and his paranoia of being caught and killed was making everything worse by the second. If it could get any worse that is. He kicked at the door, wanting to scream for it to open but not wanting to help any one find him. All he wanted was to find Tyana. And he knew…he could just tell she was inside. He stared blankly at the huge, firm and unmovable doors in front of him. How on earth was he going to get through them?
***
Tyana looked back up at the large screen. 36. Just under 6 minutes left. 4 people left. Marrettabella, herself, Jonahio and Falcee slammed chips into slots at a great speed. They were all falling into place now. There were less and less slots to be filled. It was process of elimination.
"I'm done" that was Falcee.
She disappeared into the flashing blue doorway that Tyana stood beside, slipping another chip into. Another minute passed before it was only Marrettabella and Tyana left. Marrettabella fit her last chip.
"Ty, what do I do?" Tyana opened her mouth to request help in fitting her last 5 chips when she heard an agonizingly loud and desperate scream. One she recognized. Her eyes shot to the door she had come in through.
"Open the door"
Marrettabella's eyes widened, "Are you crazy?"
"Open the door"
"We don't have time, Ty, 4 minutes!!" she reminded her.
"I said open the fucking door. DO it!" Tyana screamed at the top of her lungs before she turned back and fitted another card.
Four left.
She could feel Marrettabella's hesitation.
"Now!" she barked.
Three cards left.
Three minutes.
Tyana slotted the other card into its home as Marrettabella made for the doors.
The other two found their homes easily. The screen lit up with the total number. A count down began from 2 minutes.
Tyana turned away from the coladulator and stared at the door as it opened. A figure she knew stumbled through it. It fell to its knees in an exhausted heap.
The flashing door was beckoning her.
"Marrettabella, pass over" she called out at the woman who was staring at the rainbow haired youth. She didn't need to be told twice. She ran back to the door, but paused in it, and glanced at Tyana with worried eyes.
"I'll be there in two seconds" Tyana reassured her.
1:45 seconds left on the screen.
Tyana watched the girl disappear. She turned back to man. And she ran to him. He was at his feet when she reached him and he pulled her into a huge hug. She winced as he pressed himself against her wounded arm, not knowing it was punctured.
"Jeff" she breathed, her voice a mixture of relief and worry. He pulled back.
"Ty, what's going on?"
She gazed into his concerned eyes then back at the clock.
1:30.
"Jeff I don't have time to explain. I just…please don't forget me" she sniffed, suddenly seeming so small and vulnerable, and then caressed Jeff's cheek. He stared at her confused. And she ran away from him. He was hot on her heels though.
"Don't forget you, what do you mean?" He screamed above the sirens, desperate for an answer. Tyana was just inside that large gapping hole of flashing cerulean.
His hand clasped her arm. Hers joined it and grasped onto his with equal force.
1:09.
"Jeff, I have to go. But, I promise you I'll always be with you"
"Go where? Ty?"
"I told you, this is it. Everything will be ok now though. You're free" A tear slipped from her eyes, "You're finally free"
Tears slipped from his green orbs also, "you're not coming back are you?"
0:49
She shook her head, glancing back over her shoulder into the light, then back at his sad face.
"I'm so sorry, I never meant for you to get dragged into this. I…if I could turn back time…"
"I'd never let a single thing change" The look in his eyes told her he meant it. And she did too.
"No. Neither would I"
0:38
Just then he noticed her shoulder, "You're hurting"
A sob escaped her throat, "More than you could ever know"
"Jeff I…"
"You what?"
She was finding it hard to speak through the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
0:30
He stared into her eyes. And he stared into her soul. Jeff fell into her, suddenly knowing that fairy tales didn't exist. Love couldn't always be shared. But no matter what it would survive.
With no more needed to be said he pulled her to him in a kiss. Their tears mixed together as their lips pressed to one another in sadness, in passion, in loss, anger and heart ache. In love.
They pulled away breathless.
0:11
"Jeff I love you"
A computerized voice began the count down, "10….9…8…7…"
"I love you too"
"6…5…."
"I promise to god I'll never forget you Ty. We'll be together somehow, we have to"
She chuckled sadly and kissed his cheek.
"I only wish that was true"
"…2…"
She turned, gasped for a final breath and then jumped to safety through the gateway.
Mission completed
Jeff stared in shock as he watched her vanish from his life. She was gone. And yet he could feel her presence. He could feel her inside his heart.
The mismatched computerized voice spoke out again, "The Witnessing…" there was a crackle that sounded dangerously like malfunction. "The witnessing is ending"
Time slowed to a stand still as Jeff saw the doors close. And all at once he knew he would never remember this. Life stopped.
A giant ball of life flashed before him. It shook the coladulator violently. He took a final breath. The light exploded outwards engulfing everything in its path.
Memories erased.
The Witnessing ended.
Mission…Accomplished.
The End